The Music Parents' Survival Guide

A Parent-to-Parent Conversation

Amy Nathan

Discusses different parenting styles that can encourage young musicians

Includes advice from more than 40 professional musicians

Features colorful vignettes and anecdotes directly from parents and musicians

The Music Parents' Survival Guide

A Parent-to-Parent Conversation

Amy Nathan

Description

This book of parent-to-parent advice aims to encourage, support, and bolster the morale of one of music's most important back-up sections: music parents. Within these pages, more than 150 veteran music parents contribute their experiences, reflections, warnings, and helpful suggestions for how to walk the music-parenting tightrope: how to be supportive but not overbearing, and how to encourage excellence without becoming bogged down in frustration. Among those offering advice are the parents of several top musicians, including the mother of violinist Joshua Bell, the father of trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, the parents of cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and those of violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. The book also features advice from music educators and more than forty professional musicians, including Paula Robison, Sarah Chang, Anthony McGill, Jennifer Koh, Jonathan Biss, Toyin Spellman-Diaz, Marin Alsop, Christian McBride, Miguel Zenón, Stephanie Blythe, Lawrence Brownlee, Kelli O'Hara, as well as Joshua Bell, Alisa Weilerstein, Wynton Marsalis, Anne Akiko Meyers, and others. The topics they discuss span a wide range of issues faced by the parents of both instrumentalists and singers, from how to get started and encourage effective practice habits, to how to weather the rough spots, cope with the cost of music training, deal with college and career concerns, and help young musicians discover the role that music can play in their lives. The parents who speak here reach a unanimous and overwhelming conclusion that music parenting is well worth the effort, and the experiences that come with it - from sitting in on early lessons and watching their kids perform onstage to tagging along at music conventions as their youngsters try out instruments at exhibitors' booths - enrich family life with a unique joy in music.

The Music Parents' Survival Guide

A Parent-to-Parent Conversation

Amy Nathan

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Parent-to-Parent-The Conversation BeginsTeam of AdvisorsProfile of the Advice PanelA Different Kind of Advice Book

Chapter 2: Music Parenting-the Why's and Worth of It"Opened Up a Vast New World"Strengthening Ties to Family and FriendsBuilding Life SkillsMusic's Impact on the Brain and LearningGood for All?Shifting Goals

Chapter 3: Starting a Child's Musical JourneyPicking Up on the CluesKids Make the CallThe "Just Because" ApproachThe Age Story Age Guidelines for Starting InstrumentsMusic-and-Movement ClassesSuzuki InstructionEl Sistema ProgramsMusic-Friendly HouseholdsMore Than Music

Chapter 11: College and Career ConcernsFirst, the WorriesThe Teaching AnchorPlanning for "Plan B"A Rundown of the ChoicesResearching the Options Choosing a ConservatoryChoosing a University-based ConservatoryChoosing the College Route The Dual Degree OptionHit the Road-or NotFinancial AidAudition AdviceCreating OpportunitiesBeyond Performing Spare-TimersCollege Wrap-up

The Music Parents' Survival Guide

A Parent-to-Parent Conversation

Amy Nathan

Author Information

Amy Nathan is an award-winning author whose previous books include The Young Musician's Survival Guide, Meet the Musicians, Yankee Doodle Gals, and Round and Round Together. A Harvard graduate with master's degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Columbia's Teachers College, she is the mother of two musical sons: one a composer, the other a saxophone-playing political scientist.

The Music Parents' Survival Guide

A Parent-to-Parent Conversation

Amy Nathan

Reviews and Awards

"Where can the dedicated, but slightly frantic, music parent turn for advice? Enter Amy Nathan, a writer and music parent who wants to help...Harried parents will find plenty of insight here." -Megan Westberg, Strings Magazine

"An important read for every family engaged in music studies: a delightful collection of ideas and moving accounts from loving, dedicated parents." --Aaron P. Dworkin, Founder and President, The Sphinx Organization

"I'm thrilled that Amy Nathan has provided such an encyclopedic guide. Now I can refer the parents who ask me about starting their kids in music to this thoughtful, balanced conversation among so many parents who have been there." --Theodore Wiprud, Vice President of Education, the Sue B. Mercy Chair, New York Philharmonic

"[A]n engaging read and will be of benefit to current and future music parents... a great source of information for teachers." -- The Instrumentalist

"...shares the experiences, reflections, warnings, and helpful suggestions of more than 150 verteran music parents." -- Radcliffe Magazine

". . . any music parent will find stories and advice that will resonate with them in this book. The sidebars and stories from professional musicians were particularly delightful . . . could also be considered essential reading for any music teacher. . . So whether you are a music parent (struggling or otherwise) or an educator who has found oneself counseling a frustrated music parent, this book is worthy of a place on your bookshelf!" --American Music Teacher

"A concise, positive, practical and highly recommended source of advice and solace for anyone guiding a young musician's life." --Kirkus

"Help! How much should you push your child to practice? Is the teacher who seemed right last year still the best choice? When should you invest in a good instrument? Parents of young musicians are hungry for answers, and Amy Nathan provides some in The Music Parents' Survival Guide: A Parent-to-Parent Conversation (Oxford University Press). Nathan drew on the experiences of 265 parents and educators for this book of advice, emotional support, and important reminders of why the pursuit of music is worth the sacrifice." -- Philadelphia Inquirer

"If you are the parent of a music student, you might want to check out a new book from Amy Nathan called IMusic Parents Survival Guide. It is full of advice and info to help you navigate the many steps your child will take between first lessons and heading off to college and beyond. The book includes interviews with lots of professional musicians, educational leaders, and admissions experts from top music schools, including Dr. Matthew Ardizzone, Eastman's Associate Dean of Admissions. Definitely worth a read!" --Eastman School of Music

"Nathan decided to write The Music Parents Survival Guide after hearing from a woman who wished there was such a guide to help her with her children studying music. Nathan could relate; when she raised her two musically inclined sons, she and her husband struggled for several years to fine-tune their music education. 'I certainly could have used this book's guidance,' she says." --Peabody Magazine